After studying under Peter Voulkos at the Los Angeles County Art Institute, Denver native Paul Soldner (1921–2011) became a pottery professor there in the 1960s, when the revolutionary California Clay Movement took root.
Soldner pioneered American-style raku firing methods, experimental updates of the centuries-old Japanese process, which involve pulling red-hot sculptures out of the kiln to be bathed in smoke or dipped in cold water, resulting in beautifully frazzled glazes.
“These new firing and post-firing reduction methods often led to spontaneous, unpredictable and quite wonderful results,” says Greg Nielson, of Dwell Floor Five, in Studio City, California.
Soldner’s raku vases, for instance, with their charred surfaces, seem to smile humbly through the scars of their past adversity.
Alongside the likes of Toshiko Takaezu, Soldner innovated chunky, funky ceramics in the mid-century and beyond. He is one Voulkos student at whom enthusiasts should take a serious look, advises dealer Jayson Lawfer.
The owner of The Nevica Project, a gallery with venues in Chicago and Kansas City, Lawfer explains that Soldner “was a master of raku and was credited with bringing the historic Asian technique to the U.S.” He adds that “Soldner used simple techniques of throwing pottery on the wheel, but to make his sculptural forms more interesting, he also pressed burlap into the clay and stepped on it to give it different textures."
Find Paul Soldner pottery for sale on 1stDibs.
Paul Soldner Abstract Expressionist Studio Ceramic Vase
By Paul Soldner
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Paul Soldner (1921-2010) abstract expressionist pottery vase. Glaze in black and brown, partly unglazed. Excellent design, mint condition. Signed Soldner on the bottom. Measures: 10" H x 8 3/4" W. Paul Soldner (1921-2011) was an American ceramic artist, noted for his experimentation with the 16th...
Clay
Ceramic 'Pedestal Piece' Vessel by Paul Soldner
By Paul Soldner
Located in Dallas, TX
Paul Soldner (American, 1921-2011) was an early pupil of legendary, abstract expressionist potter Peter Voulkos. He also did pioneering work in raku, the 16th century technique which...
Ceramic
Paul Soldner California Studio Stoneware Pottery Vase
By Paul Soldner
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A spouted stoneware bottleneck vase with tenmoku glaze created by Paul Soldner of Claremont, California, circa 1960. Vase stands 9 1/8" in height and is signed Soldner on the bottom....
Stoneware
Poul Soldner Raku-Fired Crazed Pedestal Piece
By Paul Soldner
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Soldner Raku-Fired Crazed Pedestal Piece, Exhibited and published in Paul Soldner "A Retrospective" 1991 Page 97, Pedestal Piece (84-49) 1984, c...
Ceramic
Poul Soldner Raku-Fired Crazed Pedestal Piece Vessel
By Paul Soldner
Located in Chicago, IL
Poul Soldner Raku-Fired Crazed Pedestal Piece Vessel 1983 marked underside 83-28-6283 Sodner attended the Los Angeles County Art Institute, and became Peter Voulkos's first student i...
Ceramic
American Raku Pottery Vessel by Paul Soldner
By Paul Soldner
Located in Atlanta, GA
A modern pottery vessel by American potter Paul Soldner (1921-2011) circa 1960s. Paul Soldner is renowned for his dedication to develop and further Raku firing in American pottery fi...
Pottery
Raku-fired Wabi Sabi Miniature Moon Vase
By MONDAYS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One-of-a-kind Raku-fired vase. Imperfectly round. Made in our Brooklyn studio then fired in a New Jersey back yard, All dimensions are approximate as each piece is handmade. Slig...
Ceramic
Rare Empire French Fire Gilded Center Piece Tazza Warrior Horses Harp
By Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Thomire & Cie.
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
More than 200 years old showpiece for on the table. Made from glass, fire-gilt bronze and green veined marble. Beautiful horses with a warrior and mythological figures with harp and ...
Marble, Bronze
Large Signed Native American Style Raku Pottery Vase
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Large signed Native American style 2 tone crackle glaze hand thrown Raku pottery vase Approximate measurements in inches 14" high x 13" wide ...
Ceramic, Pottery
Tourmaline #6 Ceramic Vessel by Thom Lussier
By Thom Lussier
Located in New York, NY
From the Tourmaline series by Thom Lussier, hand-crafted exclusively for Cafiero Select. #6 Is the only piece in the collection shaped in this manner. T...
Stoneware
Art Nouveau Weller Style Iridescent Amber & Gold Raku Fired Vase, Pair
By Samuel A. Weller
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original pair of Raku-fired Art Nouveau-style vases, reminiscent of Weller Pottery's design enchant with their iridescent dual-tone glaze. The Raku firing process imparts unique, unp...
Pottery
$430Sale Price|25% Off
H 15.75 in Dm 7.75 in
Midcentury Ceramic Vase West Germany Uebelacker Keramik Studio Pottery
Located in Miami, FL
This tall collectable midcentury vintage vase was produced circa 1965 by the renowned manufacturer of West German pottery - Uebelacker Keramik. The vase features stunning green, oran...
Ceramic
MCM California Studio Pottery Stoneware Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice MCM California studio pottery stoneware vase with brown earth tones, circa 1970s. The vessel is in very good vintage condition with no chips...
Pottery
$407
H 7.09 in Dm 12.6 in
French Art Deco Crackled Ceramic Vase, White with Delicate Crazing, 20th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This elegant French Art Deco ceramic vase from the 20th century is a beautiful example of timeless design and craftsmanship. Its rounded form, gently flared base, and slender neck cr...
Ceramic
American Indian Michael Hawley Pottery Vessel
Located in Dallas, TX
A fabulous Michael Hawley, Chakoptewa pottery vessel made using traditional Hopi methods. Michael Hawley, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is the only living potter today creating true Siky...
Clay, Paint
$255
H 3.5 in Dm 3.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Black & Blue American Raku Vase, Vessel Studio Art Pottery 80
Located in Miami, FL
Round American Raku Mid-Century Modern inside glazed handcrafted blue and black vase, or vessel. The Studio Art Pottery is two textured vase. A-74...
Clay, Pottery
Raku Fired Vessel by Tony Evans Designs
By Tony Evans
Located in Denton, TX
Evan's distinctive style of raku pottery produced interesting fired and burnt glazes, both gloss and matte, that emulate patina, oxidation and verdigris, signed and labeled.
Clay
Large Modernist Raku Fired Abstract Pottery Vase by Tony Evans
By Tony Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Large abstract form raku fired ceramic vase on lucite base by renowned master ceramicist Tony Evans (1942-2009). Evans developed a very distinctive style after studying ancient potte...
Ceramic, Pottery
Sold
H 14.5 in W 9 in D 5 in
Paul Soldner Signed Large Raku Fired Mid-Century Modern Vessel Sculpture Vase
By Paul Soldner
Located in Studio City, CA
A rather unique and special piece by renowned American potter Paul Soldner who in the 1950s was Peter Voulkos' first student and later became famed for developing the technique now known as "American Raku", a practice of using low temperature salt firing...
Earthenware